Apple buys Swiss virtual reality technology startup Faceshift
26 Nov 2015
Although there were rumours earlier this year of Apple buying Faceshift, TechCrunch today confirmed that the maker of iPhone has acquired the Swiss virtual reality technology startup.
Reacting to TechCrunch's report, Apple today said in a standard post-acquisition statement, ''Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.''
Founded in 2012 by Thibaut Weise, Zurich-based Faceshift specialises in real time, markerless motion capture that accurately express realistic and emotional facial expressions in animated avatars of real actors in video games and movies.
Apple's acquisition of Faceshift would be the consequence of its 2013 purchase of PrimeSense whose sensors are designed to be used with Faceshift's technology.
Faceshift's motion capture technology is now being used in the new Star Wars movie.
Apple already holds patents for motion capture, facial recognition and augmented reality, through its two earlier European acquisitions of Polar Rose and Metaio.
It is still unclear what Apple's plans are for Faceshift following its acquisition and analyst and gaming specialist at IHS, told the BBC "This acquisition fits in with some of Apple's most recent deals which have centered on machine learning and related technologies such as voice recognition, augmented reality and artificial intelligence."
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